Ventilatory physiology of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities in ventilatory physiology have been noted in adults with panic disorder. We tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in ventilatory physiology differentiate children and adolescents with anxiety disorders from psychiatrically healthy children.


METHODS
Ventilatory physiology was monitored with a canopy apparatus during room-air breathing and 15 minutes of carbon dioxide exposure in 33 children and adolescents comprising 18 probands with an anxiety disorder and 15 psychiatrically healthy children.


RESULTS
During room-air breathing, probands had significantly larger minute ventilation, larger tidal volumes, and more variable breathing patterns than healthy comparisons, but the groups did not differ in end-tidal carbon dioxide or respiratory rate. During carbon dioxide challenge, probands exhibited larger minute ventilation and respiratory rate responses relative to comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings on the association between ventilatory physiology and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents are consistent with results from studies of adults with panic disorder.
Pine
D S
DS
New York State Psychiatric Institute, USA.
Coplan
J D
JD
Papp
L A
LA
Klein
R G
RG
Martinez
J M
JM
Kovalenko
P
P
Tancer
N
N
Moreau
D
D
Dummit
E S
ES
Shaffer
D
D
Klein
D F
DF
Gorman
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000187:drug effects
D002245:Carbon Dioxide